Income Tax Service

Income Tax Review - Edgewater - Chicago - The Infatuation

"We’re always looking for the kind of restaurant that feels just right. It’s hard to find a place that’s fancy but not too fancy, laid-back but not too casual, upscale but not too expensive, cool but not too trendy. When you do find that Goldilocks spot, you want to hold onto it for dear life. Income Tax, a small, dark restaurant and bar in Edgewater, is a great example. This place serves high-end dishes at not-so-high-end prices, and will leave you feeling pretty damn good about your choices. Income Tax serves small plates from different regions of Europe, as well as an extensive European wine list. The food menu, which would fit in easily at a restaurant downtown, reads sort of like a list of Top Chef contestant greatest hits - it’s a hodgepodge of dishes that don’t have much in common other than the fact that they sound like they require a lot of skill to get right. While it could go terribly wrong, everything is really good. And unlike downtown, you won’t need to convince yourself that the amount of money you’re paying for teensy portions somehow makes sense. It’s all fairly reasonable here. The dishes are divided by size, and you’re going to want a mix of them on the table. From the “Bites” section, get the strangolapreti, ridiculously tasty spinach and ricotta dumplings that manage to be rich and fluffy at the same time. Our favorite appetizer is the flammenkuchen, a German tart with bacon, onion, cheese, and a light and flaky crust. It’s small enough that it could have been cooked in an Easy Bake oven, but this little thing needs to be on the table. The entrees are excellent, too - like carrot agnolotti that are al dente and a little sweet, and topped with veal sweetbreads that add flavor instead of being an unnecessary addition to chef up the plate. As for dessert, the chocolate mousse - served with whipped cream - is what you want to go for. The space at Income Tax is not as refined as the food. Decor is minimal, and there’s not too much in the way of ambience other than dim lighting, but it still feels perfectly pleasant. The service is also pretty casual, so don’t come expecting the kind of experience you might get at a fancy restaurant. But you’re not paying fancy-restaurant prices, and the atmosphere only adds to the charming feeling that you’re getting away with something by eating here. If only things turned out so well for Goldilocks." - Adrian Kane